Whyte & Mackay profits boosted by focus on premium single malts

A focus on growing more expensive single malts has lifted annual profits at whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay.

The Glasgow-based drinks group, which was bought for £600m in 2007 by Vijay Mallya – India’s answer to Sir Richard Branson – has turned off the tap on the downmarket supermarket blends to produce premium brands instead.

Its ultra-rare Dalmore Sirius vintage sells for upwards of £10,000 a bottle. The switch boosted earnings with pre-tax profit rising 24 per cent to £15.4million in latest figures for the end of March filed at Companies House.

Ultra-rare: Whyte & Mackay's £10,000-a-bottle whisky Sirus

Mallya sold a controlling stake in
his United Spirits drinks business, which includes Dalmore and Jura, to
Johnnie Walker owner Diageo earlier this year.

The deal is currently up for
approval by competition authorities and some whisky brands may have to
be ditched if Diageo is seen to control more than 25 per cent of the
market.

There were reports yesterday that
rivals Campari or Bacardi are potential suitors. Sales at Whyte &
Mackay rose 35 per cent to £229.8million.